Believe it or not, Patricia (PD) Elliot of Little Rock and Fayetteville resident Rotnei Clarke’s relationship began when she called him a “sissy.” A flirtatious conversation about basketball kick started this U of A couple’s love story, and they soon fell head over heels. Soon indeed. After only their first date, PD remembers telling her roommate she found the man she wanted to marry. Four and a half years later, after a sentimental scavenger hunt, Rotnei popped the question and the rest is history.

The state of Arkansas saw a year of wonderment, brilliance, the high of victory and the low of unspeakable tragedy in the sports year that was 2011. College football success may have reached an all-time high among the larger Arkansas universities, and even college basketball picked itself off the mat in some locales. The Razorback Nation was rocked by the death late in the season of backup tight end Garrett Uekman, just as the Hogs reached their highest national ranking nearly 34 years leading up to the showdown with LSU. We witnessed two exciting high-profile job searches, and we again cringed at the antics of Arkansans in the professional spotlight. It was quite a year. Here are some feats that stand out as best or worst.

Optimism filled Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday. Media days tend to be full of hope and enthusiasm, but to see Marshawn Powell expressing those sentiments was a shock after watching him brood his way through 2010-11. Powell was slow in recovering from a broken foot and his production suffered. An all-SEC freshman a season earlier, Powell rarely looked like himself — on or off the floor — in what would be John Pelphrey’s last year at Arkansas. Out of shape and out of sorts, Powell averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds as a sophomore, including a 22-point, 10-rebound gem in an upset of eventual Final Four participant Kentucky. There were too few of those moments, and reliving the struggles was one of the few times Powell wasn’t cracking a smile on media day.

Bobby Petrino promised a nationally competitive football program when he was hired in 2007. Petrino made good on that promise in 2010, guiding the Razorbacks to 10 wins and a Sugar Bowl appearance. On top of that, Petrino’s vision for a $35 million football operations center came closer to reality and he agreed to a new contract that keeps him at Arkansas until 2017.
Because of the success Petrino enjoyed in his third season, he’s my pick for Razorback Coach of the Year for 2010-11. Where does football rank? Keep reading to find out as I recap and rank the Razorback sports year. Each sport’s rankings include record, highlight(s) and team MVP.

Jeff Peterson will transfer to Florida State for his final season. Peterson, who left Arkansas earlier this month to "pursue other opportunities", will not have to sit out because he is a senior and already received his degree. The six-foot point guard is the third Razorback to leave the program in June, including Rotnei Clarke and Glenn Bryant.

Can we agree, enough has been said about Rotnei Clarke, Jeff Peterson or Glenn Bryant? When the next Arkansas Razorback basketball player says he can't see himself fitting in with Mike Anderson's program, wish him well and move on. Don't forget the players already in the program who are looking forward to representing the Hog Nation this season, Anderson's first since returning to the campus he spent 17 years as Nolan Richardson's assistant.

Rotnei Clarke will take an official visit to Butler, according to a report. Clarke, who was granted a release from Arkansas earlier this month, is also considering Oklahoma and Virginia. Butler has been to consecutive national championship games, losing to Duke and UConn.

What Arkansas basketball Coach Mike Anderson sees when looking at the roster he inherited is mildly encouraging. He likes the team’s length and athleticism. Anderson, who was hired in April, thinks there are players with good basketball IQs on the roster. But what Anderson sees above all else is a significant amount of work ahead for him and his staff.

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson sees a recent spate of player transfers as a natural byproduct of a program in transition. Anderson is taking over his third program since 2002 as a head coach and said having three players leave in the last month is not unusual. “That’s part of transitioning,” Anderson said on Monday's SEC Basketball Coaches teleconference.

We should have known all wouldn't ever be rosy with Rotnei Clarke's career at Arkansas when, after the kid pledged to be a Razorback in the fall of 2007, his dad quit his job at Oral Roberts University and moved the family to Northwest Arkansas. In an era in which we see Little League parents following their progeny all the way into the NBA, this spelled trouble. We can only imagine what the former coaching staff dealt with, having Conley Clarke up the road calling the shots for his kid. What happened to turning your son or daughter over the college coaches and teachers and letting things be?

Rotnei Clarke wanted to be the best scorer and the number one option at Arkansas. For a time he was, but only out of necessity. He wasn’t going to spend his final year of eligibility holding a team of rookies together for a coach he doesn’t really know and a program perpetually in rebuilding mode.

Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke met with the UA athletic director, Jeff Long, Monday and late in the afternoon the university announced that Clarke had been granted his release to transfer without restrictions to another college.

Arkansas was supposed to be building the foundation of its basketball future with the 2008 recruiting class. It was a collection of high school, prep school and junior college talent that included four players ranked among the country’s top 150. Entering what should have been the senior season for five of the six players, zero remain.

Rotnei Clarke would like to leave Arkansas and doesn’t want to play for Mike Anderson, according to a report on CBSSports.com. Clarke asked for a release in April after John Pelphrey was fired. He met with Anderson and agreed to stay, but has since decided he doesn’t want to remain with the program for his senior season.

Mike Anderson's job could be made easier by guard Rotnei Clarke and forward Marshawn Powell. Both are capable of leadership roles, but they’ll need to work hard to gain the trust of their new coach, their teammates and others in that regard.

Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke is expected to return for his senior season. Clarke had asked for a release, but after meeting with Coach Mike Anderson will be staying with the team. Anderson told Dave Barr, host of the Bottom Line on Hog Sports Radio in Northwest Arkansas, Clarke is committed to returning.

John Pelphrey lasted four seasons with Arkansas. He was 69-59 overall and 25-39 in the Southeastern Conference during that time. Below we look at memorable moments that defined Pelphrey’s tenure with the Razorbacks:

While other programs were celebrating their selection to the NCAA Tournament, Arkansas players and Athletic Director Jeff Long faced the difficult task of talking about John Pelphrey's firing. Pelphrey's dismissal is believed to be a step in getting the program back to national prominence.